Shackle seals



1965 w. M. BROOKS ETAL 3,167,340

SHACKLE SEALS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 30, 1963 M5 44 INVENTORS:

M/INFIE'D M Beau/ 3 BY 5/61/50 M M05586 Jan. 26, 1965 SHACKLE SEALS Filed Aug. 30, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I/IIIIIIIIIIIIII/ 'VI/IIIIIIIIIIIJ 4 Tick-7- INVENTORS: W/NFRED M 5EO0KS BY S/Gl/ED/V M05596 w. M. BROOKS ETAL 3,167,340

United States Patent Ofiice 3,1513% Patented Jan. 26, 1965 3,167,348 SHACKLE SEALS Winfred M. Brooks, West Orange, and Sigurd M. Moherg, East Orange, N.J., assignors to E. .3. Brooks Company, Newark, NJL, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Aug. 30, 1963, er. No. 305,6Sti 3 Ciaims. (Ci. 292311) This invention relates to shackle seals and, without limitation thereto, is disclosed herein with reference to a bag seal for closing the neck of a bag and of such character that a used seal cannot be re-used.

Such shackle seals commonly have included a deformable sealing block of lead which when deformed upon and about a cord or tape extending through the block would hold the cord or tape securely and tightly about a bag neck or similar element to which the seal might be applied.

Our copending application, Serial No. 101,300, filed April 6, 1961, now Patent No. 3,117,812, dated January 14, 1964, discloses a bag seal which is a substantial improvement over earlier bag seals; and the present invention includes features which are improvements over the seal of said copending application.

The seal of said copending application includes a sealing block which, in manufacture of the seal, is slid onto one end of a folded, sheet metal element. In applying the seal to a bag neck, the user inserts a free end portion of a shackle through said one end of the sheet metal element, whereafter the sealing block, and the sheet metal therewithin are substantially deformed by use of a sealing tool to cause the shackle to be locked firmly within the sheet metal element and the sealing block.

As explained hereinafter, it is important that, in using the seal, the sheet metal element, through which the shackle extends, be deformed in a certain way and at certain precise points thereof to enable the sheet metal to more effectively grip the shackle. It, therefore, is important that, prior to use 'of the seal, the sealing block be firmly held in a precise predetermined position upon the sheet metal element and that means be provided for assuring that the sealing tool may be precisely positioned relatively to said block before being operated to accomplish the mentioned deformation.

An important object of this invention is the provision of a shackle seal in which such a sheet metal element is so formed as to localize such deformation thereof at a certain desired point.

Another important object is the provision of a shackle seal having a sealing block of non-metallic plastic material to reduce substantially the shipping Weight of such seals; the term non-metallic as used herein referring to the absence in the sealing block of metal other than discrete metal particles which have no material effect upon the plastic characteristic of the block.

Another important object is the provision in a shackle seal of a sealing block of non-metallic plastic material having an irregular surface in engagement with a sheet metal element extending thereinto to hold the latter and the block against separating prior to use.

Another important object is the provision in a shackle seal of a folded sheet metal member through which a shackle may be extended, and a sealing block of nonmetallic plastic material through which said folded member extends; the block having an internal neb and the folded element having cut-outs into which said neb extends to prevent separation of the folded member and the block prior to use of the seal.

The foregoing objects are achieved through the present invention of which a seal according to a preferred embodiment is disclosed herein, without, however, limiting the invention to that particular embodiment.

Anal

In the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a seal according to this invention as secured upon the neck of a bag.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the seal as immediately before the final manufacturing step of pushing the seals sealing block into place (as indicated by broken lines) upon a related sheet metal element.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the under side of the sheet metal element shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a substantially flat sheet metal blank from which is formed the folded sheet metal element shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the sealing block as seen from the near end thereof in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the sealing block, substantially on the line 66 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the sealing block in preuse position upon the related sheet metal element; the section being substantially on the line 77 of FIG. 2.

PEG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the seal, as secured upon a bag-neck, substantially on the line 88 of FIG. 1.

The principal components of the seal are a shackle shown as a tape 16 preferably of suitable strong, woven material, a clinching element 12, preferably of sheet metal, within an assembling clinching portion 12:: of which one end of the tape 10 is inserted and clinched as a part of the manufacture of the seal, and a generally rectangulartubular sealing block 14, preferably of non-metallic plastic material, this block, in manufacture of the seal, being slid from its full line position as in FIG. 2 to its broken line position embracing a sealing clinching portion 12b of the element 12.

The clinching element 12 is formed by folding a blank 16 (FIG. 4) which, prior to such folding, is approximately fiat and shaped substantially as illustrated and formed with side wings 18, 20, 22, and 24, upwardly bulging strengthening ribs 26, a hole 28 one side of which is defined by a toothed edge 36} of the metal blank, diamond shaped holes 32, and edge indents 34. The blank, also, may be formed with very shallow score lines as at 36 and 38 to facilitate folding of the blank and eventual clinching of portions of the clinching element.

The blank E6 is preferably formed of bendable sheet steel or other metal which is relatively non-resilient so that it strongly tends to retain any shape to which it is bent. In converting the blank into the shape of the clinching element 12, the Wings 18 and 2t) are folded upwardly along parallel lines, then inwardly into overlapping relationship as in Fl'G. 2, to form the portion 1211 as tubular, and relatively straight or fiat rather-than in the undulating clinched condition in which it is shown in FIG. 2. The wings 22. and 2d are folded downwardly along parallel lines, then inwardly into overlapping relationship as in FIG. 2, to form the tubular portion 12b.

One end of the tape it) is then inserted into the tubular assembling clinching portion 12a whereafter, by suitable tools, said portion is clinched to grip said tape end firmly therewithin, all as explained in said copending application and as illustrated in FIG. 2 of the present applica tion. Manufacture of the seal is then completed by pusl1- ing the sealing block 14 onto the tubular clinching portion 12b to its position indicated in broken lines in FIG. 2.

The manner of using the subject seal is the same as the using of the seal as disclosed and described in our said copending application. The free end 10a of the tape is inserted into and through the tubular sealing clinching portion 12b of the sheet metal element 12 to form the tape into a loop extending around the bag neck. The tape end 10a is then pulled to tighten the loop about the bag neck, whereafter dies 40 and 42 are forcibly closed upon the block 14 and the sheet metal portion 12b to deform them 3 1 and thereby clinch the tape firmly therewithin trated in FIG. 8. a V a The chief difference between the sheet metal clinching element 12 of the present invention and a comparable as illuselement of the seal shown in said copendingapplication resides in the provision in blank 16,. of the'present disclosure, of the single pair of-diamond shaped holes '32 I which, in the folded sheet metal element, become tapered side cutouts or indentations 44. v i

The taperedindentations 44 perform one general function which is performed by an arrangement of two pairs -of non-tapered or parallel-sided indentations in the seal of said copending application, and that is to facilitate bending of the sheet metal element and a related sealing block when the tape-is clinched therewithin in'tightening and securing the seal. The tapered indentations 44, howi ever, perform on additional function of assuring that,

whenrthe dies 40 and 42 or equivalent means are employed to sealingly deform the sealing block 14 and the sheet metal portion 12b therewithin, bending of the latter and of said block will occur precisely at the apex of thetapered indentations to most effectively cause the portion 12b to grip the tape. It may be seen from FIG. 8, that when the dies' 40 and '42 are closed upon the seal, both the upper and lower parts of the portion 12b bend at the indentations 44'so that the metal edges defining said indentations firmly engage the tape 10 ,at bent portions thereof which tend strongly to squeeze intosaid indentations. When two pairs of non-tapered indentations are employed, as in the disclosure of the copending application, the bend is "not so positively localized but may occur atany point between the farthest removedparallel sides of the two pairs of indentations,so thatthe tape, in' 'many cases, will not be securely engagedby theside edges defining the indenta tions.

According to the presentinvention, the sealing, block i 14 is of molded non-metallic plastic material which is of either the sealing block or the sheet metal element which positively prevents separation .of said block from the remainder of the sealy'and if a non-metallic plastic to' very substantial economies over comparable seals 'which hitherto, haveemployed sealing blocks, of lead;

thus,

The cost of the recommended non-metallic plastic ma-v terial is only about one sixth as'much as given number of sealing blocks;

Non-metallic plastic material (unlike lead) can be molded automatically into sealing blocks;- thus greatly minimizing manufacturing costs; I

for lead for a Sealing blocks'of non-metallic plastic material weigh only about one-third as much as a similar quantity of 7 lead blocks,thereby greatly minimizing shipping costs;

relatively hard, but capable of being deformed by the f dies 40 and 42 01 equivalent means, to its shape shown in "FIGS. 1" and'8 and, also, of such character as substantially to retain such deformed shapeafter release from the dies.

The sealing block '14" nebs 46, preferably'in transverse alignment as shown in FIG. 6 and disposed toward opposite sides of the interior of the sealing block as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. Furformed with a pair of transversely aligned, tapered indentations in opposite sides thereof forlocalizing transis forrnefd with internal, integral block being of non-metallic plastic material which tends to retain a shape to which it is deformed, and said block ther reference to FIG. 6 shows said-nebs as being located approximately midway between the ends of the sealing.

block. v

The location of the nebs 46 and the indentations 44 preferably is such that when the sealing block is pushed onto the sheet metal portion 12b, the-nebs will come into register with and enter said indentations, thus positively V the tape.

. Non-metallic plastic material (unlike lead) can be provided in various colors; a desirable consideration" with some users of shackle seals.

It should be understood that the concepts disclosed herein may be utilized in various other ways, without, however, departing from this invention as set forth in the following claims. 1

'Weclaimy v 1.. A shackle seal comprising an elongate'shacklemember, a sheet metal clinching elementrto which one end of said shackle member is secured,.said element having a tubular, deformable sealing clinching portion adapted to receive an opposite end portion of said shackle member therewithin, 'andga ltubular, deformable sealing block exv tending intimately about said sealing clinching portion and adapted to be deformed to deform said sealing clinching portion toclinch said shackle'member firmly Within said sealing, clinching portion;. the latter portion being verse bending of said sealing, clinching portion at said indentations. V

2. A shackle seal according to claim 1, said sealing having an integral internal neb registering with and prohtrudinginto one of said indentations bet, a sheet metal clinching element to which one end of 3. A shackle seal comprising an elongate shackle memsaid shackle member is-secured, said element having a tubular, deformable sealing clinching portion formed with transversely aligned and tapered-indentations at opposite sides-thereof forlocalizing bending of said portion'at said indentations, said portion being adapted to receive an opposite end portion of said shackle member therewithin,

and said seal further comprising a tubular,-deformable compressed or squashed-to some extent during pushing of the sealing block onto the sheet metal portion 12b in the manufacture of the seal; hence, the nebs do not mate- -'rially oppose such pushing action. After completion of such pushing, the nebs register with the indentations 44 1 and are free to'expand into' the latter.

The material of the sealing block 14 may advan tageously be polyethylene which ispublicly available in;

' ratherclosely graduated variations as to the hardness, de-' formability and flexibility of a final 'molded product.

Thus, selection of the proper character ofpolyethylene, for the purposes of this invention, is a simple matter,

sealing block; extending intimately about said sealing clinching portion. and adapted to be deformed to deform said sealing clinching portion to clinch said shackle mem- 5 ber firmly within said sealing clinching portion; said sealing block being of non-metallic plastic vmaterial which tends to retain ashape to which it is deformed, and said block havin'g a pair of integral, internal nebs registering with and protruding into said indentations and coacting with said sealing, clinching portion to oppose separation of said sealing block from the'remainder of the seal.

References Cited 'by the Examiner UNITED STATES, PATENTS 7 676,415- 6/91 Brooks 292-313 3,117,812. 1/ 64 Brooks,e tal..'. 292-441 M.,HENSON wooD, J1i. ,;P im r Examiner. 

1. A SHACKLE SEAL COMPRISING AN ELONGATE SHACKLE MEMBER, A SHEET METAL CLINCHING ELEMENT TO WHICH ONE END OF SAID SHACKLE MEMBER IS SECURED, SAID ELEMENT HAVING A TUBULAR, DEFORMABLE SEALING CLINCHING PORTTION ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AN OPPOSITE END PORTION OF SAID SHACKLE MEMBER THEREWITHIN, AND A TUBULAR, DEFORMABLE SEALING BLOCK EXTENDING INTIMATELY ABOUT SAID SEALING CLINCHING PORTION AND ADAPTED TO BE DEFORMED TO DEORM SAID SEALING CLINCHING PORTION TO CLINCH SAID SHACKLE MEMBER FIRMLY WITHIN SAID SEALING, CLINCHING PORTION; THE LATTER PORTION BEING 